Gaming via peer-to-peer networks

A method, comprising:

• coupling a device to an ad hoc peer-to-peer network;
• discovering, via the device, a generic peer-to-peer gaming service using a service discovery protocol of the ad hoc peer-to-peer network, wherein the generic peer-to-peer gaming service is offered by a peer device and wherein the generic peer-to-peer gaming service facilitates a user of the device to select, access, and play a plurality of specific networked games of the peer device, wherein the specific networked games are not already installed on the device;
• selecting, via the device, a networked game from the plurality of specific networked games of the peer device;
• playing the networked game between at least the device and the peer device;
• and
• facilitating download of a program to the device in response to selecting the networked game, wherein the program is configured to execute the networked game on a processor of the device, wherein facilitating download of the program to the device comprises directing, via the peer device, the device to a third party computing arrangement where the device can download the program and providing, via the peer device, authentication to the device for access to the third party computing arrangement, wherein the authentication limits the downloaded program for play of the networked game with only the peer device.

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor and at least one memory including computer instructions, the at least one memory and the computer instructions configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:
• discover a generic peer-to-peer gaming service using a service discovery protocol of an ad hoc peer-to-peer network, wherein the generic peer-to-peer gaming service is offered by a peer device and wherein the generic peer-to-peer gaming service facilitates a user of the apparatus to select, access, and play a plurality of specific networked games of the peer device, wherein the specific networked games are not already installed on the apparatus;
• select a networked game from the plurality of specific networked games of the peer device;
• play the networked game between at least the apparatus and the peer device;
• and
• download of a program to the apparatus in response to selecting the networked game, wherein the instructions are configured to execute the selected networked game on the at least one processor of the apparatus, wherein download of the program to the apparatus comprises directing, via the peer device, the apparatus to a third party computing arrangement where the apparatus can download the program and comprises providing the peer device, authentication to the apparatus for access to the third party computing arrangement, wherein the authentication limits the downloaded program for play of the networked game with only the peer device.

A tangible computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which are executable by an apparatus for performing:

• discovering a generic peer-to-peer gaming service using a service discovery protocol of an ad hoc peer-to-peer network, wherein the generic peer-to-peer gaming service is offered by a peer device and wherein the generic peer-to-peer gaming service facilitates a user of the peer device to select, access, and play a plurality of specific networked games of the peer device, wherein the specific networked games are not already installed on the apparatus;
• selecting a networked game from the plurality of specific networked games of the peer device;
• and
• playing the networked game between at least the apparatus and the peer device;
• and
• facilitating download of a program to the apparatus in response to the selecting of the networked game, wherein the program is configured to execute the networked game on a processor of the apparatus, wherein facilitating download of the program to the apparatus comprises directing, via the peer device, the apparatus to a third party computing arrangement where the apparatus can download the program and comprises providing, via the peer device, authentication to the apparatus for access to the third party computing arrangement, wherein the authentication limits the downloaded program for play of the networked game with only the peer device.

A system comprising:

• means for offering, via a first peer device, a generic peer-to-peer gaming service via a service discovery protocol of an ad hoc peer-to-peer network, wherein the generic peer-to-peer gaming service facilitates a user of a second peer device to select, access, and play a plurality of specific networked games, wherein the specific networked games are not already installed on the second peer device;
• means for discovering, via the second peer device of the network, the generic peer-to-peer gaming service;
• and
• means for facilitating commencement of a selected specific networked game between the first and second peer via the generic peer-to-peer gaming service, and for facilitating download of a program to the second peer device in response to the selection of the specific networked game, wherein the program is configured to execute the game on a processor of the second peer device, wherein facilitating download of the program to the second peer device comprises directing, via the first peer device, the second peer device to a third party computing arrangement where the second peer device can download the program and comprises providing, via the first peer device, authentication to the second peer device for access to the third party computing arrangement, wherein the authentication limits the downloaded program for play of the networked game with only the first peer device.